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:''"Wowsers!" is also a signature expression used by the cartoon character Inspector Gadget.'' Wowser is a term that originated as a slang expression; it is most commonly heard in Australian and New Zealand English. "Wowser" refers to a person who seeks to deprive others of behaviour deemed to be immoral or "sinful". ==History== The term originated in Australia, at first carrying a similar meaning to "lout" (an annoying or disruptive person, or even a prostitute). Around 1900 it shifted to its present meaning: one whose sense of morality drives them to deprive others of their sinful pleasures, especially liquor. The term was particularly applied to members of temperance groups such as the antipodean branches of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. John Norton, editor of the Australian scandal newspaper, ''Truth'', claimed he first used the word in 1899, a claim supported by the OED.〔(OED: "Wowser" )〕 However some authors〔Peter Howell, ''South Australia and Federation'' (2002) p. 67〕 claim that the present meaning originated from an Australian temperance slogan, "We Only Want Social Evils Remedied." This apparent backronym is considered a "less credible provenance" by the ANU.〔 The Australian writer C.J. Dennis defined it thus: 'Wowser: an ineffably pious person who mistakes this world for a penitentiary and himself for a warder'. Historian Stuart Macintyre argues: :the achievements of the wowsers were impressive; they passed laws that restricted obscenity and juvenile smoking, raised the age of consent, limited gambling, closed down many pubs, and in 1915–16 established a 6 pm closing hour for pubs, which lasted for decades.〔Stuart Macintyre, ''The Oxford History of Australia: vol 4: 1901–42'' (2002) p. 112–113〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Wowser」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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